Kawempe Youth Centre

Kawempe youth Centre (KYC) is a registered not-for-profit organization that works towards building literate communities. In promoting education, KYC provides library services, computer training and facilitates youth discussion groups and educational workshops.

By working with health services providers within the community, KYC is able to offer HIV/ AIDS Voluntary Testing and Counseling, Blood donation and other sensitization activities as part of our Health Program. The organization engages the efforts of both local and international volunteers in carrying out the various activities at the centre and within communities. In schools/communities that are under-served, KYC aims at working to improve education by carrying out activities aimed at building literate communities.

KYC in collaboration with its partners provides volunteer placements/internships to international volunteers to work on educational, health and community-based projects in its project areas.

Below are the volunteer types available through Kawempe Youth Centre;

• Community/health centers

• Social services, social work

• Education i.e. volunteer interns/teachers in primary schools

Duration

The duration of volunteer placements depends on the project an individual is attached to. Otherwise, volunteer teacher/social work placements within community projects and partner schools are between 8 to 12 weeks (2-3 months), which is the duration of a school term in Uganda. Long term volunteer stays are also available.

The number of daily working hours and weekly working days of the volunteers is flexible. Volunteers work between 2 to 8 hours a day and up to 5 days a week. When required, volunteers carry out tasks within the scope of their placement to meet overall strategic priorities of the program. Volunteers take part in a flexible schedule, which includes some or all activities offered by the program. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and culture is encouraged.

Volunteer orientation

KYC offers volunteer teachers/interns a one week period of orientation done at the centre before volunteers are attached to a partner school or project. This normally involves a first day city walk during which activities that are essential in settling the volunteer are undertaken. Village Teaching and Outreach Placement Volunteers work with partner community based organizations that provide health and education services in rural communities.

Some of these placements focus exclusively on teaching in primary or secondary schools. Others include; both teaching and community outreach components. Intending volunteers have to inform us if they wish to teach, do outreach work, or a combination of both, so we can best choose their program.

Volunteers should bring any supplies, teaching materials, or instruments they wish to make use of. Village community outreach placements can include; youth mentoring, HIV prevention, AIDS care, sanitation, hygiene and general public health. For volunteers with a medical background, placements can include; working with health-based organizations or medical centres. Volunteer activities may include; Low level medical procedures, home visiting, designing education materials and conducting seminars and any other activity that may be of benefit to the volunteer.

A village placement is particularly appropriate for volunteers with great ideas and enthusiasm for grassroots development. This is a real opportunity for deep cultural exchange.

Village outreach: Public speaking and mentoring in rural communities about; HIV/AIDS, , hygiene, family planning, reproductive health, nutrition, early childhood feeding, sanitation, women's rights and domestic violence. Volunteers travel to a variety of villages on a weekly basis, design their own seminars based on that week’s subject matter. Basic training and educational materials are on site, but volunteers are encouraged to bring new materials as well. Secondary School outreach: Public speaking and mentoring of youth about teen issues. These may include; alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, STDs, Youth Health Education, and decision-making. Volunteers may visit 1 or 2 schools per day speaking directly to students about issues affecting them. Again, volunteers will design their own speeches. Again, basic training and access to educational and any other materials in order to prepare themselves.

Accommodation

For all village placements, accommodation and daily meals will be provided within the village of placement, and will range from private apartments to rooms in private homes with a local host family within the project community. This comes with the added advantage of getting to live within the community and learning about local cultural practices. Advance notice is needed to enable KYC organize a home-stay accommodation for the volunteers.

Cost

Placements through KYC are offered at no cost and all contributions to projects may be made on an individual basis. However, volunteers are encouraged to fund raise so as to contribute funds to either an on-going project/activity at the organization, or one that is yet to be initiated. KYC combines volunteering experience with tourism (voluntourism) in our dynamic tour and travel arrangements for volunteers to different destinations throughout Uganda, thereby promoting volunteer tourism.

Join our facebook group page (Kawempe Youth Centre) for more information about other placements available at KYC or through us.